IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine men's soccer sewed up three points in a Big West-opening win Wednesday night defeating UC Riverside, 2-0, in Anteater Stadium.
Building Up
The 'Eaters (4-4-4, 1-0-0) hit the ground running providing constant pressure and attack off the opening kickoff. UCI had the match's first nine shots including some close calls by
Seamus McLaughlin and
Jose Ortiz off crosses, but nothing found the back of the net as the sides played scoreless into the half.
Sudden Impact
The Anteaters continued on the front foot, but it was UC Riverside (5-5-2, 0-1-0) getting a pair of monster chances. Defender Uros Ilic drove right up the gut of the Anteater defense and took a chance from nearly 40 yards out lining a chance to the upper left corner of goal that
Ford Parker needed to get completely horizontal to get a hand on and keep it out of the goal.
The Highlanders regrouped on the ensuing corner kick as Robert Garcia-Vargas found the ball at his feet in the box, but his shot destined for goal was turned away by
Roberto Molina standing on the goalline to preserve the scoreless match.
Breaking Through
UCI finally found some success as play flowed into the final third of the match. The offense carved its way around the attacking third, and
Roberto Molina found
Jose Ortiz along the right wing. Ortiz made some space and fired near post sneaking between the post and keeper Leonardo Targia for the opening strike putting UCI up, 1-0, in the 64th minute.
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The attack moved forward and turned into a second goal in the 72nd minute. The play came up the right wing with
Eddy Berumen driving to the touchline. His cross was headed to the top of the box, and run onto by
Michael Orozco who blasted a shot up under the crossbar right into the upper corner to grow the lead to 2-0, Anteaters.
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Final Score: UC Irvine 2, UC Riverside 0
Goals on the night from Ortiz and Orozco were the second of the season for each. Ortiz, playing in his 70th career match Wednesday night, added to his career goal total now at 15 with his fourth game-winner. Orozco now has three career goals and seven points.
Assists came from Berumen, his second with both coming in the last three matches, and Molina, his second as well now with four points during the team's five-match unbeaten streak.
The defense stepped up as well posting its second shutout of the season thanks to three saves from
Ford Parker. The defense as a whole allowed just five totals shots to UCI's 19. The attack was relentless earning 11 of the game's 12 corner kicks. Highlander keeper Leonardo Targia, making his collegiate debut, stopped four Anteater shots.
"It was important for us to start Big West play on the front foot," noted head coach
Yossi Raz. "I thought we were good in the first half, but couldn't quite open up a very good UCR team. They're well-coached and have a lot of talented players. I felt like the boys were persistent with the gameplan and we're happy we prevailed here at home."
UCI finally gets back even on the season to a 4-4-4 record having gone five straight matches without a loss (2-0-3). The 'Eaters also get three important points to start Big West play for a second straight season to open Big West play as they look to defend their regular season title from 2018.
"The Big West is extremely difficult, and if you don't play difficult games prior to Big West season then you won't quite be ready for what's coming," Raz added after his squad played the 12th-toughest non-conference slate going 3-4-4.
"I don't know if anything can prepare us for the Big West, but I think we're as prepared as we're going to be. We get ready for each opponent as they're all very different, and we continue to perform well."
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Next Up
UC Irvine heads up north for a match Saturday, October 12, kicking off at 2:00 p.m. UCI's opponent is Sacramento State who were also a 2-0 victim as they opened conference play Wednesday night in UC Santa Barbara.
